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art & writing in the deep south

“Charlotte’s Web” @ ASF

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is currently presenting a production of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, adapted by Joseph Robinette. According to Robinette’s bio on the Dramatic Publishing website, he is “a Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award nominee for the libretto of the acclaimed A Christmas Story, The Musical [and] the author or co-author of 55 published plays and musicals.” About this play, he “collaborated with E.B. White on the authorized stage version of Charlotte’s Web.”

When asked about the adaptation, ASF’s associate director Nancy Rominger said, “There were a number of reasons that the adaptation by Joseph Robinette was chosen. One of the major reasons is that it maintains E.B. White’s style and follows the original story very closely. It’s such a great story that it would be a shame to lose any of the warmth, wonder or lessons that the book has to teach.”

Rominger also stated, “There are really no significant changes to the characters. It is impossible to put everything that is in the book in the play so some of the things that were not essential to understanding the journey that Wilbur and Charlotte take have been omitted.”

The play premiered on September 10 and will continue its run until October 20.